Vikings uncertain who will start at QB on Monday

Who is going to start for the Vikings at quarterback Monday night against Chicago? Even interim coach Leslie Frazier doesn't know the answer to that one.

Brett Favre has an injured throwing shoulder and numbness in his hand that ended his NFL-record consecutive starts streak on Monday night at Ford Field. Tarvaris Jackson suffered a turf toe injury to his right big toe in the loss to the Giants. Joe Webb has been battling a hamstring injury he suffered on Dec. 5 against Buffalo.

Frazier described Jackson's availability for Monday's game as being in jeopardy. "We'll see what happens and how he responds," Frazier said. "That's a difficult injury, particularly when you're a skill position guy like he is. So we'll see what happens with that."

Frazier said the Vikings are considering a list of eight different free-agent quarterbacks whom they would consider signing this week and that there is a possibility one of those players could start.

"[We're] just trying to determine which guy best fits us at this stage," Frazier said of the free-agent list. "Because it's probably going to be a guy who may very well find himself playing in that Monday night ballgame. So through that list, we're just trying to determine which guy can help us."

Frazier would not dismiss the fact that Favre could start. "We're hoping to get him back," Frazier said. "He had an ultrasound today just to check some of the nerve area in the shoulder and the neck and it was negative. We’ll see how he feels as the week goes on and just try to monitor that and hopefully it will get better for him as the week goes on."

Frazier acknowledged that he doesn't expect Jackson will be able to practice Thursday. The Vikings also have quarterback R.J. Archer on their practice squad but he was just recently signed after spending a portion of the offseason with the team and almost certainly won't be promoted to the 53-man roster.

There was some talk on Monday night that with Favre's streak of 297 consecutive regular-season starts coming to an end he could be placed on injured reserve. But it appears that won't happen.

"I don't see that as being part of the equation at this point," Frazier said. "It looks like there's a chance that we're going to be able to get him back at some point. Hopefully this week. But we're optimistic that we're going to have him so we're not really thinking IR at all."

Cook placed on injured reserve

Cornerback Chris Cook's season will come to an end three games early as the Vikings have decided to place the rookie on the injured reserve list.

Cook, whom the Vikings selected in the second round with their first pick of last April's draft, has sat out the past three games because of soreness in his both of his knees. He said Friday that his left knee was swollen and was the one really giving him trouble.

Cook's issues stem from arthroscopic surgeries he had on his knees at different points this season to repair meniscus tears. He missed the final exhibition game and the opening two games of the regular season after having a procedure performed on his right knee in late August.

He made his NFL debut in Week 3 against Detroit and played well but injured his left knee. He originally didn't think much of the pain as the Vikings left on their bye week but an MRI showed that he had another meniscus tear.

Cook missed four games total before sitting out the past three.

"We just felt like for him and for our future it's better to not continue to try to get him back out here," Frazier said. "He needed to rest those knees after two surgeries this season. So we're going to place him on IR and give him a chance to rest and get ready for the 2011 season."

Cook will finish the season having started five of the six games in which he appeared. His play definitely dropped off when he came back after the second surgery and he was benched in both games against the Green Bay Packers.

Etc.

Vikings players will be off Wednesday before resuming practice on Thursday for Monday night's game against the Bears.

Defensive end Ray Edwards, who has missed the past two games because of a high right ankle sprain, is on the mend, according to Frazier, and the Vikings are hoping to have him back.

Wide receiver Percy Harvin has missed the past two games because of issues with migraine headaches and hasn't practiced in full since Nov. 26. But Frazier said "all indications are that he will be practicing Thursday," adding, "now it's just a matter of getting through the week to have him ready for Monday night, but we expect to have him back at practice on Thursday as well."

Frazier said left guard Steve Hutchinson's status will be day-to-day, "just to see how he can tolerate the pain he has and the swelling he has as well. We'll see as time goes on." Hutchinson has missed the past two games because of a broken right thumb.